Nurse staffing levels 'need to be made a priority'
Wednesday 8th December 2010
The number of UK medical jobs for nurses with specific skills needs to be made a much higher priority, says the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).
Care is compromised daily on some NHS wards owing to short staffing, according to research cited by the organisation.
When examined within the context of guidance on safe staffing levels and skill mix, the RCN indicated that in wards where care was compromised there were twice as many patients per registered nurse.
Commenting on the findings, RCN chief executive Dr Peter Carter explained that there needs to be a closer examination of staffing levels, particularly surrounding mental health and elderly care.
He added: "With NHS beds running near to capacity it is absolutely vital that staffing levels are prioritised – this means collecting the right information to get the base level right as well as continuing to monitor and maintain safe staffing levels."
Last week, the RCN called for more nursing support for women during labour in UK hospitals.
The comments were made in response to a survey considering women's experiences of maternity services in England in 2010, with respondents suggesting they would have benefitted from improved access and a better sense of involvement during care.
Written by Angela Newbury
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